Why is starting a business so hard

caption Elon Musk and SpaceX’s Big Falcon Rocket is designed to be 16 stories tall, carry up to 100 people, and deliver 150 tons of cargo to Mars. source SpaceX; NASA; Mark Brake/Getty Images; Samantha Lee/Business Insider Elon Musk plans to blast a tourist around the moon in a ship made by his rocket company, SpaceX. The private lunar mission is meant to demonstrate a new two-part launch system called Big Falcon Rocket, which is designed to eventually bring humans to Mars. Engineers are said to be building a prototype of the BFR’s spaceship primarily out of carbon-fiber composites. Exactly how SpaceX is building that spaceship isn’t publicly known, but industry experts have some guesses. Aerospace engineers, astronauts, and Musk himself have said the first missions to Mars are likely to be perilous. In December, a giant white tent appeared at the Port of Los Angeles. A routine permit suggested that SpaceX, the rocket company … [Read more...] about Elon Musk is building a spaceship that’s so ambitious, some experts call it ‘science fiction.’ Here’s what SpaceX and its engineers are up against.

caption Owning a business can seem to many women like a better alternative to corporate life. source Lazarenko Svetlana/Shutterstock In the past 20 years, the number of women-owned firms in the US has increased 114%. Research shows that many women start businesses because it just seems like a better alternative to the demands of corporate life. In the traditional workplace, women often face gender discrimination and have a hard time balancing work and childrearing. Yet while entrepreneurship seems to offer greater autonomy and flexibility, it can also contribute to economic insecurity. Every day in the US, women start about 849 new businesses. And over the past 20 years, the number of women-owned firms has increased 114%. You could herald these developments as signs that the world of American entrepreneurship is, finally, becoming more open to women. But the statistics obscure a more troubling trend. For many women business owners, starting a … [Read more...] about There are 114% more women entrepreneurs than there were 20 years ago, but the reason why is troubling

caption Read up before becoming an entrepreneur. source Azovtsev Maksym/Shutterstock Books can be an affordable way to get professional advice before starting your own business. Authors highlight the mistakes startups have made in the past, making it easier to avoid doing the same. The advice in these books can apply to anyone, whether you’re an aspiring tech entrepreneur or an artist looking to tell your work. If you want to start a business, you’ll need advice on where to start, what pitfalls to anticipate, and how best to spend your time and money to get your idea off the ground. While you may be tempted to spring for classes, seminars, and training sessions, books are the most accessible and affordable way to start learning. Whether you’re an aspiring tech entrepreneur or an artisan looking to sell your work, these are some of the most insightful books to read before you launch. … [Read more...] about 12 books you should read before starting a business

caption Greg Wootton (pictured), a professional Thai boxer and two-times world champion, is one of the trainers at Flykick. source Tom Joy Combat sports are more popular than ever in the fitness world. Boxing is on the radar of most mainstream gym-goers these days, but kickboxing classes are also on the rise. We visited a boutique kickboxing studio in central London to put the workout to the test. Flykick’s founders spoke to Business Insider about the muscles you work in a kickboxing class compared to boxing. Scroll down for our verdict. Boxing was one of the biggest fitness trends of 2017 – and if you’re partial to throwing a punch or two on the bag, then you might want to give kickboxing a go. Its champions say you’ll get a better full body workout and ultimately burn more calories in a kickboxing class – so we went to Flykick, a new … [Read more...] about Why kickboxing is a full-body workout like no other, according to the ex-venture capitalist and COO duo who started a gym dedicated to it

source Quantic Dream The PlayStation 4 continues to be the most popular game console in the world. Over 70 million consoles have been sold, and that’s just in the past four years. In 2018, the console’s dominance shows no signs of slowing – if major entries in the “God of War” and “Spider-Man” franchises don’t ensure that, then the other huge blockbusters assuredly will. Here’s everything we know coming to the PlayStation 4 in 2018 so far! 1. “Shadow of the Colossus” source Sony In 2018, the best game from 2005 is on the PlayStation 4. It’s called “Shadow of the Colossus,” and it’s already out! When the game originally launched in 2005, it was a revelation for PlayStation 2 owners. Though it may look like a standard video game, “Shadow of the Colossus” is anything but – the diminutive character you see above is who you play as, and … [Read more...] about The PlayStation 4 is having a killer run — here’s what to expect in 2018